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Charlie (April Russell) - Medical Director

Hello Parents and Campers! 

My name is April Russell but at camp everyone calls me Charlie.  I am the Medical Director at Camp Y-Owasco and outside of camp I am a professional school bus driver and lunch-relief school nurse for all four schools in the Hudson Falls Central School District (GO TIGERS!)

I am originally from Port Byron, NY (GO PANTHERS!) I now live in the Adirondack region in the town of Glen Falls, NY. 

I first worked for YMCA camping as camp nurse at the Auburn YMCA’s former Willowbrook Day Camp under Dorothea Hughes.  I love kids and this camp life, so I came back to work for Camp Y-Owasco as nurse again in 1990 and 1991.  Now I am happy to be back at Y-Owasco for my third year (again) having worked under Mr. Joe Murphy (“Random”) for 2009, 2010, and now 2011.  I have been an LPN since 1984.  I went to Auburn BOCES LPN course and decided I didn’t get enough of kids so I went into Private Duty Nursing in 1985 and have helped many wonderful kids and met great families.  I decided in the spring of 2006 to drive a school bus and told my husband I was going to do it.  Three months later I went from a Dodge Neon to a huge school bus!  I was hired as a driver for the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District (GO EAGLES!!) and worked 2 great years there, met some great people and moved to the Adirondacks in the fall of 2009.  Thanks to God I am doing better than ever! 

Personal Interests: 

- My husband Don and I are certified foster parents and help children and their families to develop normal, healthy relationships to move on to be productive members of society. 

- Climbing mountains in the Adirondacks (Whiteface is this year’s challenge—no driving up!)

- Swimming (Just call me Dolphin!)

- Reading good Christian books

I believe we get out of this life what we put into it, and if you’re not smiling, then smile—it increases your face value! 

Thanks for letting me share and work with your kids.  They are all winners in our book—the book of Y-O camping, that is!  Also, in the words of our ever-wise Random (a.k.a. Joe Murphy, Camp Director):  “Camp:  This IS the “real” world!” 

Auburn YMCA-WEIU